Michael Ferguson drove his wife Lorraine to a bus stop in Brooklyn on Friday morning, kissing her goodbye as she stepped out of the car. Seconds later, however, Ferguson had the misfortune of witnessing a horrific scene – Lorraine was hit by a charter bus just seconds after waving to her husband. She was pronounced dead on the scene.
According to Ferguson, 55, the bus went through a stop sign before hitting Lorraine. These reports, however, have not yet been confirmed by police.
In Ferguson’s emotional statement to police, he said that his wife kissed him goodbye and jumped out of the car when she saw the bus approaching. He then describes the terror of seeing his wife’s last moments alive.
Michael Ferguson was parked in Carnasie at the intersection of Avenue K and E. 105th street, close to the bus stop where Lorraine would catch the B103 Express bus to her workplace at New York Life insurance. Lorraine was waiting for the bus in the car to shelter from the cold.
At 7.15, Lorraine saw the bus approaching and left the car, walking across the intersection to the bus stop. According to Michael, the charter bus did not stop at the stop sign at the intersection, continuing straight along 105th Street and into Lorraine. ‘He just turned and hit her’, said Michael.
Lorraine, who was 47 years old, was trapped underneath the bus. She died on the scene before emergency rescue services arrived, said police authorities. As emergency workers removed Lorraine’s body from the scene, Michael broke down.
The bus driver, who has not yet been named by police, pulled over immediately and remained at the scene of the accident. He is cooperating with the police investigation. According to the police officers investigating the case, there are no charges expected to be laid against the driver. Despite Michael’s statement that the driver jumped the stop street, there has been no corroborating evidence found to suggest that the driver was driving recklessly.
The charter bus company that operated the bus, Rides Unlimited, has not yet responded to media requests for a comment on the accident.
According to Lorraine Ferguson’s mother, Eudeen Smith, her daughter was a cheerful and friendly person who cared for her family greatly. Ferguson moved to the US from Jamaica 20 years ago, and she and Michael have two sons, a 22 year old and a 30 year old who is currently serving in the US Army.